By USMAN ADAMS
Coming from a village of Okokolo in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State that cannot easily be located on the map of Nigeria, Mr Adam Ikwulono Egwa who retired from service in October, 2023 after reaching the mandatory age of 60 years knew instinctively that the only way to success for a man like him who was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth was only through Hardwork, Dedication and honesty in any workplace he found himself.
The above perspectives were his guiding principles when he first took a job as a civil servant in 1991 at the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation.
Equipped with a BSc Honours in Accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU Zaria) and a Master in Business Administration from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU Bauchi), Mr Adam Ikwulono had worked with National Electricity Power Authority (NEPA) and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) before ending as the Director of Finance & Accounts of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN). The objectives of the training institute among others are;
* To create a strong dynamic and world class power training institute called NAPTIN;
* To create a cadre of experts and professional trainers;
* To develop partnerships, Affiliations, linkages with local and international training institutes and universities;
* To develop a marketing strategy to market the value of training in power utilities in Nigeria;
* In line of with the above objectives, apart from his professional qualifications as an accountant through the instrumentality of the training institute, he obtained certificates through workshops, seminars, and refresher courses in the following areas;
* Seminar in electrical co-operation with China for developing countries – Changsha;
* Advanced course in crime investigation and crime intelligence workshop. South Africa Institute of corporate fraudmanagement International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPPSAS) – JK International Dubai.
Apart from those stated certificates obtained from across the globe, Mr Adam Ikwulono Egwa is also a member of these professional bodies;
* Member, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria;
* Fellow, Chartered and certified system Accountant (FCCSA, USA);Fellow, Certified National Account (FCNA);
* Member, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM);
*Member, Institute of Industrial and Corporate Administrators.
Infact, there are some other distinct qualifications possesed by the dedicated, hardworking and honest civil servant that cannot be mentioned on the write-up of this nature as their significance would be swallowed in the oceans of details.
During his career, he was a trust worthy officer respected both by his colleagues and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in all the places he had worked.
Accordingly in the absence of the Chief Executive Officers where he had worked, he was always the immediate choice to act on their behalf.
He therefore acted on several occasions with the approval of the Hon Minister of Power whenever his Chief Executive Officers were not on sit for any reasons.
The only position he did not achieve was the substantive appointment as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Agency, because such an appointment needed the approval of the president, who only has the mandate to give such an appointment.
Like in other ministries, the ministry of power, zone departments and Agencies under the ministry of power is aimed at ensuring a steady power supply which all Nigerians yearn for. These agencies and parastatals include:
Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)
Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA)
Rural Electricity Agency (REA)
National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN)
Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading PLC (NBET)
Nigerian Electricity liability Management Company (NELMCO) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)
It should also be clear to all Nigerians that those who they see across the country as NEPA staffs with ladders and those distributing bills to customers, there is a lot of managerial architecture going on under those aforementioned agencies before they can see the light in their various homes, offices and business premises.
There is therefore the need to ensure that the ministry of power in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Present administration to continue to ensure that capable efficient and knowledgeable officers are encouraged to key into this agenda to ensure that in no distant future, the issue of power outages is overcome
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to inaugurate the Boards and Members of these agencies in the Power Sector, and with the determination of the president in ensuring that capable hands from anywhere they may be found are engaged, the services of the likes of a well trained, honest and dedicated person like Mr Adam Ikwulono Egwa would be highly required.
This could also be a reminder of what happened in California, when the service of the story of Col John McLaren, renowned gardener who was hired to restore the beauty of San Francisco Park noted to be the most beautiful in America. This beautiful park was destroyed by the devastating earthquake which swept across the city of San Francisco in 1906.
The story goes on that McLaren who was employed at the age of 41 through a dint of Hardwork and expertise was able to restore the beauty of the park beyond its original state. His employers were enthralled by his superlative performance and decided to retain his services beyond the mandatory retirement age of 60years, which was then, the late but compulsory age of all civil servants time in America at the time. But when McLaren got there, the people of San Francisco insisted that he stay on. And when he was 70, they insisted again.
After that, he was given a perennial waiver of retirement. This is a classical example of the saying that, the result of Hardwork is More Work and the Nigerian Government have also rewarded some civil servants by giving them extra jobs when they had reached the retirement age of 60.
As for Adam Ikwulono Egwa, when his retirement plan was near, many of his colleagues both junior and senior expressed the hope that his services were much further required even after the mandatory age requirement in any capacity.
The president may find necessary as a reward for his dedication, Hardwork and honesty and transparency as an example for all those who are still in service.
Written by Usman Adams, A Public Affairs Analyst.
